Machine for making electrode assemblies



Sept. 2, 1952 P. L. REED 2,608,743

MACHINE FOR MAKING ELECTRODE ASSEMBLIES Filed Feb. 10, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. PRICE L.REED

BY lZud/wr ATTORNEY Sept. 2, 1952 P. L. REED MACHINE FOR MAKING ELECTRODE ASSEMBLIES 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 10, 1949 IN VEN TOR. PRICE L. REED ATTORNE 5.

Sept. 2, 1952 p REED 2,608,743

MACHINE FOR MAKING ELECTRODE ASSEMBLIES Filed Feb. 10, 1949 5' shets-snee'g 5 INVENTOR. PRICE L REED aw m7 ATTORNE S.

ssneets-s xie t 4 P. I... REED MACHINE FOR MAKING ELECTRODE ASSEMBLIES Se t. 2, 1952 Filed Feb. 10, 1949 INVENTOR. PRICE L. REED ATTORNE 5.

Sept. 2, 1952 P. REED 2,608,743

MACHINE FOR MAKING ELECTRODE ASSEMBLIES Y Filed Feb. 10, 1949 5 sheets-Sheet 5 IN VEN TOR. PR/ 05 L R 50 IATTORNE s Patented Sept. 2, 1952 r 2,608,743

UNITED T -es mm; or fice ASSEMBLIES I Price-L. Reed; Royel'sford, Pa z'assignor to Superior Tube Company, Philadelphia, Pa,, a-cor poration'of Pennsylvania Application February d0, 1949;sbin1 751577 7,.Glaims; (01. 2945.2)

This invention relates to the manufacture 'of' Figure 1. is a-pian view of the portion of the cathodes for thermionic tubes and hasparticul'ar' machine-embodying the tube feed mechanism; reference to the disc type of cathode whichis Figurezis a perspective View of the: front of used-in various cathode raytubes, television pickthe port'ipn of the machine embodying the disc; up tubes, and tubes of so-called'lighthouse' con r feed and tube forming mechanisms; struction.-- r Fi'gur-e' 3 is'a perspective view of the back of In tubes of the-types just mentioned the thermithe portion of the: machine-embodying the disc onic emission isobtainedfrom arelatively small, feed and tubeforr'ningmechanisms; v

fiat disc coated with alkaline eartlioxidesx These Figurei's a back view showing in elevation discs: are sl'ipported-by a metal tubular member in the bortion ofthe machine embodying the disc which maybe of any of the conventional form's, tubs forming'mechanisms; r Y

e; seamless or or lockseam-welded, welded a'nd Figure 5 is avertical axial section ofthe-mechaa drawn, boxed, or wrap-around ribbon ty-peand nisi n shown-"at the-upper l'eft hand portion of also serves as a means of conducting heatto the Figure 4;

disc orcup-carrying the oxides toheat-it to Figure- 6 is avertical axial section of anotherelectron-emitting temperature. An insulated portion of-the mechanism shown in Figure 4;

tungsten, molybdenum or similar wire is usually Figures 7- and" 8 are sections taken on theplane placedinside-the tube to provide suflicient "heat indicatedat 1-1 in Figure 1 showing. the relaby electrical resistance-to make possible a-ttaintionofl'certain elements of the machine during ment'cfthepropertemperature} 2d different stages of operation; and 5111 order to. support the/cathode assembly --F-igures 9--and'10 are plan views, partly in-fsec ceramic or similar-heat resistant insulatorsare tion, oii the portion of the machine. indicated at employed; Heretofore the tubular member has III- in Figure lshowing the relative positions of been held. 'in :p1ace in various fashions; for ex-- certainelementsot the machine during different. ample, by the useiof two collars carryingflanges,

S rs-cant operations "x ill.

the collarsbingJWelded on the t'ube at each side Referring-to Figural-there is amotor driveeleof. 'theilinsulator; Icy-providing an embossing or ment l l supplying-drivin p w r by m n of l beadaon the; tube on onevsi'de ofthe insulator amd tZLto'lshaft lflwhich is mounted inbearing housproviding 'IB-"COHGJ" having. a fiange Qn: the' qther in'g si l ii andicontainsthe tubular element 20; It-

i B, onby'p cviding abead onthetube' o'n chef will b'e 'evident that; the 'mechanism shown gen-v side; of:the insu1at0r andprovidingon the othen erailly' l-"3 described in: detailin the sidaa deep. drawn; cathoder cap witha-fiane e11 patentL-to A AL Pruckner;:2=,248,720-,. issuedJuly-B; gaging :the-z insulatorp These: constructions-ere 1941;:which, bi -the operationsof cams 24,116 expensive andrequire'an' undue ameunt of hanand: 28 as f-u11y described:i .therein','- lcauses. the dling and welding, andizin' the-baseofuse of dep tune-2M0 be fed-to theirigh't forge; distance-ad.-

drawn.cathodemapsLthre 'i's ailimitation; diie y'to justablexby'the positionsofthe cam levers and" the idrawing, o the metals which may be used; at ai particular time-relative-to the position of- .It is aniob'ject iofithis;inventiojytmmounffihe camishaft'fi. The tube 2|], when not being fed,

ceramicjn'sulatingi.disd bnthe t mm 111 1115 is::he1d= in-=pdsition by theaction ot chuck-I5; tan60us'1y:emboss'ing:1;he;tub rea q g g The: cam-shaftfl? is driven by thezmotori ll; disc. 'throughbelt le, shafting; not shown, and the' Another objiect'c-rof' the invention is-temount chain z li as i's iully described in the above men'- the ceramicdisc'squarely andfirmlyon'the tube; tioned'fpatent to A1 "AiPrucknen- The shaft 22' accuratelymositio'ned with respect tome-endear I rotat q e-i f h Cyfleof o t n f e athegt b j '21.: 1 .I'. f

i It is a further-{ebjeetjof thefi friventipn' .i 'rp'e; vide automaticmeans fpr: feeding the 'cera disc; feeding a-definite 1ength oi the;tube thr'cu meanness; e j 'n "of speed with respect to the speed .ofjthe cam shaft 22during the in j chine; fine-shaft "Hi and thetube 20 are rotating} f {time re e wellas between tube fe f ,l'thej: tub 32 a; "tub mounting chuck i 5,;

Referring to the fiigures, the disc magazine 40 contains ceramic discs 30', similar to disc 30, which may be fed into the top of the magazine either manually or by conventional automatic feeding means. The disc magazine 40 is mounted on members 39 and M which are slidably mounted in slots 43 and 45 of the disc magazine mounting member 31. The lowermost position of the magazine is adjustably limited by means of screw 42, which bears against stop 44, so that the lowermost disc contained in the magazine is positioned with its center hole in proper align-.

' ing I30.

ment with the tube 20 as shown in Figure 1 to I allow the entrance of the tube into the disc. as will be hereinafter described in greater detail.

The disc magazine 40 is raised by the action of cam 46 acting through cam follower 41 and connecting members 48, 50 and 52 providing the clearance necessary to permit the guide roller 32 to move into position as shown in Figure 8.

At the lower end of the disc magazine are spring leaf members 54 which deflect outwardly and allow the lowermost disc to remain in position on the'tube 20 when the disc magazine is raised by the action of cam 46. The spring leaf members 54 return to their normal position when the lower disc has been withdrawn thus retaining and properly positioning the next disc for the next disc feed operation. ,When the rise of the cam 46 has passed the cam follower 41 the disc magazine will, by its own weight, return to the lowermost position as determined by the setting of screw 42. It will be noted that the portion of cam shaft 22 mounted in bearings 31 and 38 and carrying various cams is a continuation of that shown in Figure 1 which rotates one revolutionjfor each cycle of operation of the machine and controls the operation of tube feed.

Also mounted on cam shaft 22 is bevel gear 58 driving bevel gear 60'which is mounted on cross shaft62. On the opposite end of cross shaft 62 there is mounted bevel gear 64 in engagement with bevel gear 68 which, in turn, drives cam shaft which makes one revolution for each revolution of shaft '22. Mounted on cam shaft 10 is cam 12 which, acting through cam follower 14 and lever'16, advances the carriage 18 which is mounted on the'base plate 1.1. Mounted'on the carriage 18 is the carrying member 80 and carrying arm 82 in which, inturn, is mounted the pin 83' carrying theguide. roller 32. There is-provided an adjusting screw 84-which serves to move carrying member 80 longitudinally with respect to carriage 18 in order to provide the longitudinal adjustment required to properly align theguide roller 32 with the. disc 30 to permit engagement of the disc 30 .within'the slot 208 of the roller as shown in Figure 9. The tra'nsverseposition of the guide roller can be adjusted by changing the position at which carrying arm 82 is mounted oncarrying member 80 in order that, when the guide roller is in engagement with the disc, the faces 204 of the guide roller will contact the tube 20. The guide roller when contacting the rotating tube 20 will rotate about pin 83; thus there will be a minimum of scufiing'between the.

guide roller 32 andthe .tube 20 and the-disc 30.

The cam follower 14 is at all times held ffirmly. against the cam 12 by the action of spring. I

88 of member I00 is a tubular shaft I02I Rigidly 4 afiixed to shaft I02 are members I04 and I08. Rotatably mounted within the bores H0 and H2 of members I04 and I08, respectively, is shaft II4 on one end of which is mounted eccentric pin H6 in engagement with the forked member I I1. Member I I1 is pivotally mounted on pin II8 which is aifixed to member I I9.

Mounted on cam shaft 22 is sprocket I20, mounting the chain I22 which drives sprocket :I24. Sprocket I24 is aiiixed to sleeve member I26 which is rotatably mounted in bearing hous- The sprocket I24 is held in proper alignment with sprocket I20 by the action of the collar I28, which is affixed to the sleeve I26, and sprocket gear I24, each bearing against opposite sides of bearing housing I30. Slidably mounted within the sleeve I26 and splined thereto by elongated key I32 is shaft I34. Rigidly mounted on the shaft I34, which is also slidably mounted within bearing housing I36, is the cam I38 and member I40. The lower end of member I04 is embraced by, and rotatably mounted on, member I40.

Also mounted on member I04 is bearing mount.-

I42 carrying pin I44 on which is mounted arm I48. Mounted on one end of arm I48 is cam follower .I50bearing against cam I38, and connected to the: other end of the arm by pin I 5| is connectin link I52 which is connected to the arm I60 by pin I6I. The arm I60 is, in turn, rigidly connectedwith shaft H4. The cam follower I50 is held firmly against the cam I38 by the action of spring I49 Working between lever I48 and the member I04.

The assembly of the parts associated with members I02, II1 and II9 is shown in Figures 5 and 6. Member I62 is aflixed to member I02 by set screw I59, and retained between member I62 and guide member 96 isspring I64. Rod I66 is keyed within the central bore of member I02 by key I68 allowing longitudinal motion but preventing rotation between the member .I 02 and the rod I66. Mounted to the left-hand end of rod I66 is the micrometer head I 10. The micrometer head I10 is threaded, and, as shown at I12, is engaged with the threaded interior of member I02.

The'screws I14, which provide a mounting for the micrometer head I10 on rod I66, allow the micrometer head to rotate with respect to the rod butcarry the rod longitudinally with the ber I 02.; The edge I 63 of the member I62 bears resiliently against the knurled surface I1I of the micrometer head I10 thus locking the head in anyPQsition in which it is set.

The member I19 is rigidly mounted on theright-hand end of rod I66 by set screws I16. Pivotally mounted to mem'ber II9 by pin II 8 is member 4 I1. Member I11 is mounted in bearings I18 within member I I1.and receives spinning nib 34 which is held in place by set screws I19.

Cut-off discjt is rotatably mounted on shaft I0.0., The shaft Iis screwed into support arm I82and locked in position by jam nut I84. Thus there is provided longitudinal adjustment of the position of the cut-off disc. Support arm I82 is mounted in carriage I86, which is slidably mounted on member I88 The relative positions of carriage I86 and member I88 may be adjusted by screw'l81 whichIs'erves to adjust the point of furthermost inward; travel of the cutting disc when, it is in the position of cutting the tube 20 aswilljbehereinafter described. Cam I96 is ri idlyiriourited onshaft 22. On mountin'g bracket I90 ispivotally mounted'levenmember I one head asthe head screws into or out of the memend of which: snpports..cain.fl1o;wer: [.9 trunnins 1 on cam I95 iandathe'other. end 5 of which .is. con: nected-to. member 188.; by meansof the linlh [9.8.

TheLmemberJBB is slidably mounted in base plate; 189'. The-cam .follower. l'945is. held firmly against the :cam'.l96 by the action-of .spri-ng 2.0 ll working.-

between' 'bracket [SO-and lever. l 92.

The sequence of operations ofthe. machine may; now be reviewed. With the cam shaft 22. in they position as shown, .the. tube has .been..f.ed,x through .the center hole. in ;the. lowermost .disc. in;

the disc magazine 40,. by: the mechanism shown.

generally at l.8..in-zFigure;l, as disclosed :in th above mentioned patent to AA; Pruckneni. While the extent to. which the-Ltube is. fedthrough the disc-iscontrolledby the-feedingmechanism, there. is-also provided a stop. memberillz-zwhioh'serve 1 as a gauge as well as .a. stopto insure the-exist;

ence of-an accurate-length of tube beyondthe .disc' After the. completion -.of :the :tube feedoper-i ation, the rise of the cam 46. passesv under-the. cam follower 41 raising the; members. 4.8,;v 50, 52:.

and .the disc supply magazine. 40 :from. theppsi- .tion shown. in Figure. 'Irto. theposition shownin Figure. a. The lowermost disc;3ll through which. the tube znjhaspbeen. insertedisv drawn from the magazine past the spring clipsi!whichspring.

back. into position preventing; the succeeding. discs from-dropping out of themagazinei- 1min benoted that;ca;m;'l2 actuatin the uide roller; 3.2;. and ..cam... 94.; which gives. lon itudinal motion to the-member: I112 and: the. assembly,

mounted: thereon including th spinning nib- ;34;

arezin positions similar to.;,tha.t of. cam.- 65. Thus,, asstheidisc. supply ma azine. is raised, the ui e... roller smountingassemhly. is; move .1 inw rdly... by: Y the action.- of. member 16.. and he uide oller 32;. engages the. .disc. 3,0 as shown in: Fi ure 8 and 9;; At-the. same time. the spinnin nib; 35g ismoved v longitudinally. inwardlyinto the tube .20, 'fromazthe. position hownin Ei urelfi, to the pos tionshown.

Figurefiandthen brou ht. tobcarzaea nst the wallet tube 2.0,; intheiollowing manners he canmiabearing;.oncam follower 1 llfizzmoves the memher. I04. to.;the;- right; as: view d ir mvthe ack orthemachine-in Eigureszandie-i. Member;

fllswhichris affixedtomember 1.8.4.. moves in th emdesfifizand 9% carrying with itm mb rs1.1.5.8,.-v IJB-and :J j] 1 and compressing spring l 54, between Membe 1.0.4115 etain bx. a d ota ab mou ted on, member. ....1ch;.. s. fixed to ha t'l i When embe l0 .m v to he .ht. 1. .:E eu csSa d 4 by.

he: ui 6-an member: L62- e ssedr the ca f llower! m ber I40 car ies. i Ji -shaft, 1% 53 slideslonsitu n y w in e ve 6 andb a n member. |3 6.:. While. heia u t of trave r the spi in vnit- 34 is...

micrometer head adjustment the-beads 206 of-the,

spinning nib maybe. positioned longitudinally exactly with respect to the bevel edges 2|2 of the groove298 in the guide ureilhix Immediately following the completion of insertion of the nib into the tube 20, the rise of the-camzl38 moves undergthe. cam followerlfifl" actuating' inembersM8;- [523160; H4 and'llli, causing member H! to pivot on pin I I8 and im- :Tmnof ca 9.4. o movedto. e e t by. h ac n, of; r n 1. .4 wh n the; ise i he; cam

roller as shown in Fig-- part. .to. :the; spinning a transverse motion?- causin .itto. assum an.cffrcentenpositionw. the tube 1. 0;: such as.:i.s: shown Figure-:8. m mber 111,, in whi h. th sp nnin n1. mountedgis carried by bearings. I I8 thlls ith knmi wi r t e. re l s scenes the ib. beads 2.0. con-tact thejnteri oroftherotfiitin tuhe. I peripheral surfaces. i114 of th. uide; 0l-1;.-32 been a t' h -tu'bepr id nare arsth a t nc hevb a 2. 6 of thers inni i h b rnasain tithe n ide o be m cdisc; 3. me s-. ith.-thesl t 8' uide r011 I 32 and" s e eby e d." squ rely. in position on. the shaft 2-0;,whi the-beads; on th spinning nib form the beads; lit-on the .tu on. e t er s e' 0fthe r c d sc'- lt-wfll e at that the edges of the groove 208 are beyellediat 2 l 2 .to allow. for. the. formation of thebeads gill which result. from the action of the'ibeads' HG-0n: e pmm-ng in h-em i @fi th8$i-. 2.0 .andserveto. mount the disc 30= rigidl on tube. and at precise. right angles thereto Aslthe bead .spinningoperation comes i' o. iin,.-.- pIe-tion,. the cam IQGQcauseS-the,cutmfijdisc. to move inwardly and contact the. tube. .20 f1? cutsoif. disc, being; rotatably ,mounted; on} her N30,,v will rotate as aresult of xitscontac rotating tube 20- and commence cutting the tube in. the -manner of a. conventional. tube. cutting disc. The. exact. length i of tube...remaining b tween the disc 30 and the point. of, cut=ofi b3; cut off wheel 3'6 is. adjusted. by movin thethreadedmember 1.80 with. respect. to. the. s ,pon.--. arm. I82; Thesurface of. the. rise. of. theicu oft;

disc actuating cam I196 is constructedwith. as. pro ressively.increasing.radialidimension.murder; h tj h the uitt i j g takes. p1.ace,.,the. cut-ion? disc is" gradually'moved inwardly infordei th' as'the tub'e'is cut," the. force, of the cut-off; wh e bearingpn .th'etube is approximately uni'io' Following the inward motion of the cut-.011? 64 the: cam' follower [-50.- drops: from the rise. .oliith'f cam l38-movin the spinning; nib longitudinal to 'a-centralpositionWithin-the' tube-"20 after which cam follower H16 drops-from theri' se otthe cam-- 94 allowing the spring I I 64 to draw the shaft l0;2- arid" the assembly; mounteds thereon longitudinal-1y backward; thereby" drawings: the-r spinning nib out of the-' tube; and returningil-t to a position asshown in Figure-=2; Simultaneous," with this withdrawal of the spinning; ni-b-theguideroller-is retracted 'toa position clear c-f-thm ceramic disca sis -alse indicated in= Figurelfl after i which; cut oir 'disc 3 6 completes the cuta-llowing the severedtube and disc-assemblyte drop from the machine intoa receptacle -(not? shown) providedtherefore It will be noted that a-bead-spun-cireumfer entiallyin a I tube by the rotation of the -tube about apoint must be ina plane perpendicularto the longitudinal axes of the tube Thus whem two beadsarespun si'mul-taneo'uly in a'tuhe'so'as to bear -upon' either side -of--a- Y member mounted thereon the member, in this-- case --theceramic= disc, willbe mounted not only firm-1w but else;

thereby further-assuring a -permanent rigid This operation is more mounting-for the disc. fully described in the copending application of Thomas H. Briggs, Jr., Serial No. 75,845, filed February l1, 1949. In my Patent No. 2,476,454, issued July l9, 1949, there is disclosed the method and apparatus for gaging and welding the cathode cap in position on one end of the tube.

' The present invention accomplishes both the mounting of the discandthe accurate cut-ofi of the-tube both rapidly and automatically thereby insuring a maximum uniformity of finished product and eliminating all the handling formerly required in the manufacture of'the types of assembly heretofore employed.

-' What I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is-z" r I 1. Apparatus for mounting an element on a tubular member comprising means rotating said tubular member, guiding means including means for positioning said element longitudinally on said member, bead forming: means, and means bringin said bead forming means to bear on the inside of the wall of said member on opposite sides of said element, said guiding means also including means for supporting said member against the action of the forming means, the beads formed in said member by the forming means providing a mounting holding said element perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tubular member.

f2. Apparatus for mounting an element on a tubular [member comprising means supporting said tubular'member, guiding means including means for positioning said element longitudinally on said member, bead forming means'and means bringing said bead forming means to bear on the inside of the. wall. of said member on opposite sides of said element, said guiding means also including means forv supporting said member against the action or the forming means, the beads formed in' said member by the forming providinga mounting for said element on said-tubular member. p V

3. Apparatus for mounting an element on a tubular member comprising means supporting said tubular member, means for positioning said element, means feeding said member through an aperture in said positioned element, bead form-' ing means, means inserting said bead formi means into said member and bringing the forming means to bear on the inside of the wall of said member on opposite sides of said element,

guiding means supporting said member against the action of the forming means, the beads formed in the wall of said member by the forming means bearing against each side of said element mounting it on said tubular member, and means for cutting ofi-a length of said member after saidele ment is mounted thereon.

{l.;Apparatus for mounting an element on a tubular member comprising means rotating said tubular-member, means for positioning said element, means feeding said member through an aperture in said positioned element,- bead forming means, means inserting said bead forming means into said member. and bringing the forming means to bearon the inside of the wall ofsaid member onom ositeysides of said element, guiding means supporting said member a ainst thegaction of the forming means, the beads formed in the wall of. said member by the forming means providing a mounting holding; said element perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tubular memben'and means for cutting ofi length of said member, after said element'is mounted. thereon.

5. Apparatus for mounting an elementon a tubular member comprising means mounting said 1 tubular member, guiding means positioning said member, guiding means positioning said element longitudinally on Said member adjacent one end thereof, bead forming means, and means enter.-v

element on a tubular member comprising means.

for guiding said element and temporarily holding it in a predetermined position, means for feed-. ing lengthwise a predetermined length of tubing through the aperture in the positioned element, bead forming means comprising a spindle provided with a pair of heading flanges, a second guiding means constructed and arranged to embrace said element andto bear upon theexterior of said tube, means for withdrawing said first mentioned guiding means to release said element after said tubing has been fed through the element, means for moving said second guidingmeans to embrace said element to retainit in a predetermined position lengthwise of the portion of tubing extending through its aperture, means for rotating said tubing, means for inserting said bead forming means within said-tubing and for causing said beading flanges to press against the interior of said tubing on opposite sides of said element to produce, in conjunction with said external guiding means and during rotation of said tubing, a' pair of beads to mount said element on the tubing at right angles to the tubing, means for cutting off a length of said tubing' to provide said tubular member, means formoving the cut-off means intoengagement with said tubing, means for withdrawing said bead forming means from said tubing after beads are formed there-" in, and means for withdrawing said external guiding means from engagement with said tubing after beads are formed therein.

REFERENCES CITED;

The following references file of this patent: 7 H

' UNITEDSTATES PATENTS I Date Number I Name 567,328 Warman et al Sept. 8, 1896 FOREIGN PATENTS 4 1 f Number Country Date rare-E L. REED.

are of record in the;

Great Bri in ----"---f-.. t-@1906. 

